Cartridge-shell



(No Model.)

W. B..LINDSEY.

CARTRIDGE SHELL.

No. 408,246. Patented Aug. 6, 1889..

NITED STATES \YILLIAM R. LINDSEY, OF ARCATA, CALIFORNIA,

CARTRIDGE-SHELL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,246, dated August 6, 1389'. Application filed December 27, 1888. Serial No. 294,792. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. LINDSEY, a resident of Arcata, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridge-Shells; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to cartridge-shells for fixed ammunition, and particularly those used to hold the prepared ammunition for rifles or shotguns.

It has been found that the shells ordinarily employed to contain a fixed charge for a rifle or shotgun, and which are stamped or drawn entirely from sheet metal, have not the proper strength to resist the impact of the explosive gases evolved in the combustion of the pow' vder used, and in consequence the shells become so expanded both laterally and rearwardly as to be too large for the chamber of the gun, and consequently are worthless. It has further been ascertained by practical experiment that the recoil usual to some guns is due in a large measure to the improper shape of the rear end of the cartridge-shell, whereby the expansive force of the powderis so suddenly developed as to react violently while overcoming the inertia of the bullet or charge of shot, and in consequence the gun is caused to rebound or kick the shoulder of the user.

lVith a view to overcome the defects above mentioned, myinvention consists in certain features of construction and comb'inationsof parts, that will be hereinafter described, and

pointed out in the claimv I Referring to the illustration of uny device, the view given represents a longitudinal section of the cartridge-shell through its axial center.

A represents the cylindrical wall of the cartridge-shell. This is preferably struck or drawn from sheet-brass and is rendered scamless by the methods of manufacture usual to the construction of seamless shells, the rear wall A being closed, with the exception of a central perforation u, that will be again alluded to, said rear wall being also provided with a guard-rim A that limits the insert-ion will enable of the shell. The center of the rear wall A is recessed inwardly to produce a shallow chamber a, in which the detonating material ,to that of the shell that a true conical cup 0 may be produced by reaming the same but with a suitable drill or reamer.

The apex of the conical cavity 0 made in the breech-block I3 coincides with the small firing-orifice a, in the center of the chamber a, so that a continuation of this orifice is formed at the. apex of the conical rear end of the shell A, produced by the insertion of the breech-block in the manner stated.

Any suitable means of fasteningthe breechblock 15 in place within the shell A may be employed, such as brazing of the parts together, or-a sweating-joint of solder may be made to fasten the block in .close contact with the rear wall of the shell A, into which it should be fitted to drive tightly in process I of manufacture.

I prefer to insert a separate block of solid metal within the thin sheet-metaL shell of a cartridge for fixed ammunition, on account of the facility of manufacture of the shell in this manner, and thus embody my improvement at a moderate cost for production.

The advantages in use of my improvement consistin the increased durability afforded the rear end of the shell, as by the insertion within the seamless shell of a re-enforcing block 13 and securing it therein to its rear side and end wall thethin wall of the shell is strengthened and rendered proof against the expansive force of the explosive gases of. the powder, so: that the durability of the device is largely increased, and is rendered available for reuse for an indefinite number of times. v

The construction of a cartridge-shell, as hcreinbeforc described is further of great advantage in the prevention of ObjGCiilOllflblG recoil of the rifle or shotgun with which it is conjunctively employed, as the conical form I of the rear end of the shell Aprovides forthe ignition of a small quantity-of powder priz reezers marily, which is sniiieient to overcome the inertia of the ball or shot. Then there is a progressive ignition of the charge instead of an instantaneous generation of expansive 5 force by the simultaneous ignition of a large area of powder, as is effected in the ordinary cartridge-shell having a fiat rear wall.

The graduation of the initial eolnhustionof the explosive agent, as afforded in the conical breech of the cartridge-shell which is the subject of the present invention, obviates the severe recoil of the gun that is due to the reaction. of the explosive force in overcoming the inertia and frictional resistance of the ball or shot charge at the instant of ignition, thus rendering the arm more serviceable and comfortable for continuous use.

Having lnllydescrihecl my invention, what I claim. as new, and desire to secure by Let- 2o tors Patent, is-

As a new arti e] e of manufacture, a cartritigeshell made Wholly of metal, the base thereof having a recess in its outer face and a projection on its inner face, and a block located within the shell and provided on its rearface with a recess adapted to receive the projection on the inner face of the base, ans proviclotl With a conical cavity in its fron'tfeee, I

3. me e.

WILL?! it itnesses; I STEPHEN SHERWUHH,

O. P. Semi-tween. 

